山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)與佛(fo)(fo)的(de)(de)(de)因緣最(zui)早(zao)要追溯到晉(jin)朝,相傳(chuan)西(xi)域僧人慧照來到無(wu)錫秀麗的(de)(de)(de)西(xi)神山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓駐錫傳(chuan)道,從(cong)此就有了惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)之名。寺(si)建于(yu)宋(song)景平元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元423年(nian)(nian)(nian)),梁大(da)(da)同(tong)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)),建大(da)(da)同(tong)殿(dian),易名為(wei)(wei)法(fa)云禪(chan)(chan)院。唐(tang)宋(song)間,又改名為(wei)(wei)昌(chang)師院、普利院、旌忠薦(jian)福功德禪(chan)(chan)院等(deng)。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)是(shi)禪(chan)(chan)宗道場,歷(li)史上香火旺(wang)盛,高僧眾(zhong)多,唐(tang)宋(song)鼎(ding)盛期僧舍達數千間。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)因佛(fo)(fo)而(er)繁榮。從(cong)唐(tang)朝會昌(chang)至(zhi)清朝同(tong)治的(de)(de)(de)千余年(nian)(nian)(nian)間,惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)五次遭(zao)劫,五次重建。清朝乾隆皇帝曾(ceng)到惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)禮佛(fo)(fo)并留下大(da)(da)量詩篇(pian)。1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)李鴻章在惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)廢墟上建昭忠祠。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)由于(yu)其悠久的(de)(de)(de)歷(li)史和深厚的(de)(de)(de)文化(hua)而(er)歷(li)無(wu)錫十大(da)(da)叢林(lin)之首。保存完整的(de)(de)(de)唐(tang)代(dai)(dai)聽松石床、唐(tang)宋(song)經幢、香花(hua)橋(qiao)、宋(song)代(dai)(dai)金蓮橋(qiao)、明代(dai)(dai)古銀杏、清代(dai)(dai)御碑等(deng)珍(zhen)貴文物以及近年(nian)(nian)(nian)修復(fu)建造的(de)(de)(de)大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)、惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)鐘等(deng)展示了佛(fo)(fo)教(jiao)文化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)獨特(te)魅力。2004年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月26日,具有1500余年(nian)(nian)(nian)歷(li)史的(de)(de)(de)江(jiang)南名剎惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)法(fa)喜充滿,修復(fu)開放并恢復(fu)宗教(jiao)活動(dong),從(cong)此晨鐘暮鼓、經聲佛(fo)(fo)號又回蕩在錫惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓。目(mu)前的(de)(de)(de)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)佛(fo)(fo)法(fa)僧三寶(bao)俱(ju)足,古老的(de)(de)(de)叢林(lin)正呈現出勃勃生機。
惠(hui)山(shan)寺位于無(wu)錫(xi)惠(hui)山(shan)秀嶂(zhang)街(jie)(今惠(hui)山(shan)直街(jie)和橫街(jie)交接處),始建(jian)于南(nan)北朝(chao)。它的前身是南(nan)朝(chao)劉(liu)宋(song)(song)司徒右(you)長(chang)史湛挺創立(li)的“歷山(shan)草(cao)堂(tang)”。劉(liu)宋(song)(song)景平元年(423),把歷山(shan)草(cao)堂(tang)改作僧舍(she),稱“華山(shan)精舍(she)”,梁朝(chao)大(da)同三年(537),又把“華山(shan)精舍(she)”改為“慧山(shan)寺”。
惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),位于(yu)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(今(jin)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)直街和橫街交接(jie)處(chu)),始(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)朝(chao)(chao),距今(jin)已有(you)一千(qian)五(wu)百余(yu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)。它的(de)(de)(de)前身是(shi)南(nan)(nan)朝(chao)(chao)劉(liu)宋(song)司徒(tu)右長(chang)史湛挺創立(li)的(de)(de)(de)“歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂”。當時他歸隱在(zai)歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)),與南(nan)(nan)朝(chao)(chao)的(de)(de)(de)南(nan)(nan)平王劉(liu)爍(shuo)以詩(shi)章(zhang)酬和,齊江淹亦(yi)有(you)繼作(zuo)(zuo),后(hou)人把他們的(de)(de)(de)詩(shi)作(zuo)(zuo)列于(yu)壁間(jian)。劉(liu)宋(song)景平元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(423年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂改作(zuo)(zuo)僧(seng)舍(she),稱“華(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”。元(yuan)徽(hui)(474年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——476年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),沙門(men)僧(seng)顯,從京師(今(jin)南(nan)(nan)京)入吳(wu)地,在(zai)“華(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”休息(xi)(xi)過,這是(shi)最早(zao)而有(you)名望的(de)(de)(de)高僧(seng)。梁朝(chao)(chao)大同三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把華(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)改為(wei)“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”。寺(si)(si)僧(seng)陳大德建(jian)(jian)(jian)大同殿,又(you)名“法云禪院”。唐朝(chao)(chao)會昌(841年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——846年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),寺(si)(si)毀(hui),唐朝(chao)(chao)大中(847年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——859年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))期(qi)間(jian)重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)。北(bei)宋(song)至(zhi)道(995年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——997年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),賜(si)額(e)“普(pu)利(li)院”。北(bei)宋(song)靖康元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),賜(si)給(gei)名相李(li)綱作(zuo)(zuo) “功德院”。宋(song)紹興(xing)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1131年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把該院賜(si)給(gei)信安郡(jun)王孟忠厚,祀昭(zhao)慈圣(sheng)憲(xian)孟太后(hou),改額(e)“旌忠薦(jian)福寺(si)(si)”,賜(si)銅(tong)印一顆,上鐫“旌忠薦(jian)福功德禪院之印”,元(yuan)朝(chao)(chao)末(mo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被毀(hui),明(ming)朝(chao)(chao)洪(hong)武元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)普(pu)真重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。永樂五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1407年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)懷祖又(you)修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)。正(zheng)統十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1445年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))被火燒毀(hui)。巡撫周忱,知縣項伾重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)。萬(wan)歷(li)二(er)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1959年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),有(you)個唐裕(yu)的(de)(de)(de),挾妓(ji)游春,競放火炮,炮火飛上殿脊,殿被焚毀(hui),次年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)吳(wu)申錫(xi)(xi)捐(juan)千(qian)金重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian),他的(de)(de)(de)兒(er)子澄時又(you)造了(le)禪堂和不二(er)法門(men)。康熙于(yu)二(er)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1684年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))南(nan)(nan)巡時,至(zhi)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),在(zai)漪瀾堂品泉(quan)。第(di)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),無錫(xi)(xi)人周宏詞力加修(xiu)(xiu)治,題額(e)為(wei)“圣(sheng)敬式臨”。后(hou)來,乾隆六次到(dao)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),在(zai)秦園和竹爐山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)房(fang)休息(xi)(xi),寫了(le)不少詩(shi)詞,題了(le)不少匾聯,還特地為(wei)“惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”題額(e)。清朝(chao)(chao)感(gan)豐至(zhi)同治年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),李(li)鴻(hong)(hong)章(zhang)的(de)(de)(de)淮湘軍曾(ceng)與太平軍在(zai)江南(nan)(nan)一帶(dai)激戰(zhan),惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)(de)寺(si)(si)院毀(hui)于(yu)戰(zhan)火,僅存寺(si)(si)門(men)匾額(e)。后(hou)來,李(li)鴻(hong)(hong)章(zhang)在(zai)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)(de)廢墟上建(jian)(jian)(jian)立(li)了(le)“昭(zhao)忠祠”,辛亥革命后(hou)改為(wei)“忠烈祠”。
由于惠山(shan)寺坐落在(zai)(zai)名勝之(zhi)地,聲譽早(zao)已隨著天下第二泉(quan)的美(mei)名而滿天下。它早(zao)在(zai)(zai)唐宋之(zhi)時(shi),就香火不絕,盛極一(yi)時(shi)。寺院范圍包括整個愚公(gong)谷和寄暢園,僧(seng)舍(she)就有一(yi)千(qian)零四十八間之(zhi)多(duo)。古往今來,多(duo)少騷(sao)人墨客,以至帝王將相,在(zai)(zai)經過(guo)京杭大(da)運河時(shi),都(dou)要(yao)在(zai)(zai)惠山(shan)寺逗留。
解放后,市人民政府對惠山寺進行了(le)全面整修,1954年重(zhong)新設(she)計改建(jian)了(le)“古(gu)華(hua)山門(men)”和(he)二山門(men),非常(chang)壯嚴古(gu)樸。現在惠山寺還保留著古(gu)跡和(he)建(jian)筑物有古(gu)華(hua)山門(men)、唐宋石經幢(chuang)、金(jin)(jin)(jin)剛殿(dian)(dian)、香花橋(qiao)和(he)日(ri)月池、金(jin)(jin)(jin)蓮橋(qiao)和(he)金(jin)(jin)(jin)蓮池、御碑亭、聽松石床、古(gu)銀(yin)杏(xing)樹、大同殿(dian)(dian)、竹爐(lu)山房和(he)云(yun)起樓等。